A friend asked me the other day how I’ve managed to get into so many shows lately. Here’s the quick answer: I quit Facebook; I applied to a lot of shows; I expanded the type of work I do. Read on for more tips.

Chicago artist Gwen Zabicki is interested in the ways people in urban environments live alone together. In her most recent body of work she explores the idea of a shared urban melancholy. Her work is deeply invested in Chicago’s urban landscape.

I work mostly in paint (watercolor and acrylic) and marker. The scale of my work varies. I have new ideas every day, but I try to focus and add more things to the piece I'm working on instead of starting something new. I spend about 10 days on each piece. I start with one idea and it changes over time, which is what makes my work interesting.